Holistic retreats over tradi­tional beach holidays

Oct 8, 2011

Chi Pavillion at One & Only Maldives

“The way you think, the way you behave, the way you eat, can influence your life by 30 to 50 years,” says holistic doctor Deepak Chopra, a renowned propagator of mind-body medicines, such as Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old Indian philosophy that places equal emphasis on mind, body and spirit. Unlike fad diets or unused gym memberships, holistic therapies recognise the importance of a global approach to health. With conditions such as depression often linked to obesity, it follows that emotional well-being is intrins­ically linked to physical fitness.

Today, an increasing number of holiday­makers are opting for holistic retreats over tradi­tional beach holidays. Recognising the importance of helping their guests to relax mentally and emotionally as well as physically, luxury resorts now offer tailored programmes that incor­porate the latest holistic fitness trends, to leave mind, body and soul revitalised.

YOGA – holistic fitness

Mandarin Oriental, The Landmark Hong Hong features one of the most advanced yoga studios, with a wide selection of classes, from the Mysore Style, traditional way of Ashtanga yoga taught by Pattabhi Jois in his AYRI (Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute) in Mysore India to Dynamic Flow - vinyasa-based class in which various postures are creatively linked together into a challenging and vigorous flowing sequence.

All One & Only Resort Hotels offer complimentary daily classes. At One & Only Reethi Rah, Maldives, yoga classes are held in the iconic Chi Pavilion hovering above the ocean, creating an atmosphere of positive energy and the perfect platform for refocusing the mind and rebalancing the body.

Phulay Bay, Ritz Carlton Reserve, Krabi offers Candle Light yoga which is a breathing and stretching activity to promote within healing while emphasizing the importance of flexibility. Each stretch or position is static so participants can relax while improving ranges of motion across the entire body. Candles, aroma therapy oils and relaxing music are used to completely unwind your mind.

Four Seasons Langkawi in Malaysia features Ketenangan yoga, acalming class which combines breathing exercises with meditation. Through breathing and meditation, one can achieve a greater sense of purpose , strength of will and improved concentration.

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru offers Pranayama yoga a series of guided breathing techniques improves and balances the flow of the vital life force – prana. Focusing on bhastrikas (rapid abdominal breathing) and kapalabhatti (rapid inhalation and exhalation), the session also incorporates anapana (a simple process of following the breath to calm the mind) and anuloma viloma (alternate-nostril breathing).

Quantum Xiroid Consciousness Interface (QXCI)

One & Only Palmilla Resort in Mexico features state of the art innovative treatment of Quantum Xiroid Consciousness Interface (QXCI) which combines cutting-edge technology with Ayurvedic tradition. By scanning the body, QXCI seeks out signs of stress, such as viruses, allergies and nutri­tional imbalances. Tailored frequency therapy is then used to redress or neutralise any discrep­ancies, resetting the body’s chakras—the centres of energy thought to govern psycho­logical properties.

BioEnergetic health assessement

British based The Organic Pharmacy features in its SPAs a BioEnergetic device which literally scans the body in three minutes providing profiles on: vitamin and mineral deficiencies, food intolerance, toxicity, organ function, hormone balance, viruses, bacteria, fungus, parasites, digestive disorders and stress. The scan is ideal for anyone wishing to improve their health, planning a pregnancy or as an annual check.

The Henri Chenot SPA at Palace Merano Hotel offers a bio-energetic measurement of the vital functions of the organism and energy flows along the channels which run through the body according to the teachings of Chinese medicine. On the basis of the information collected with the guest, sophisticated equipment is used to measure bioelectrical variations in the skin. These variations are localised in specific points and indicate individual disorders. These points are then stimulated to strengthen and restore the balance in the organism.